Author Topic: T3h Advice!!! Please. (Read 7765 times)

danno13 · « **on:** August 13, 2006, 10:17:42 AM »

Hey all.

I'm looking to upgrade my rig a bit in the next few months, and one possiblity is new pickups.

The guitar I'd be upgrading is a 100% stock Fender Lite Ash Stratocaster, run through a Vox AD60VT.

I'd like it to have a more modern, high-output tone, but I'm not certain I want to completely abandon the SSS configuration, and I really like the creamy low-output tones in the neck and middle positions. Basically, I really only want a bridge pickup.

So: Stay SSS and get a Sinner? Or go HSS and get a Warpig, Miracle man, or Nailbomb? Or does anyone have any better ideas?

deg0ey · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2006, 11:09:55 AM »

Well, when upgrading my strat (not ash, but still completely stock) I did a lot of thinking and eventually went for a HolyDiver and a pair of Slow Hands.

I think that the HD can cover pretty much everything with ease. They make a wonderful sparkley clean noise but the best part is when you stick it through the distorted channel - I found myself having to turn the gain down on my amp, and it makes a great 80s whitesnakey tone.

What surprised me most was when I cranked the gain up a bit, it can handle the fairly "modern metal" much better than I expected it to...I was thinking it would be a more old school pickup but it manages the high gain nicely as well...

I know you were only looking at the bridge pickup, but I would also say that the slowhands are a great match for the holydiver in terms of output, and they can still do the low gain/clean sounds really well also

Unfortunately these are the only BK's I've played (apart from about 15 minutes with an Abraxas, which is a completely different kettle of fish) so I can't be more of a help, but the main point I want to make is not to overlook the Holy Diver thinking that it's not going to be powerful enough (as I almost did). I'll try to get some recording gear soon (if i've done enough overtime to be able to afford it) and get some clips up for you as I don't think there are any in the players forum yet :drink:

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2006, 01:11:37 PM »

Dont mean to but in.. but how do you like the Slowhands deg0ey?

deg0ey · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2006, 01:16:22 PM »

Well, I think they're really nice...Clean, I wouldn't be able to tell they're supposed to be higher output (although I'm not exactly a strat bod) but when you stick the distortion through they dirty up really nicely...

I have a switch to have mine wired in series also, which sounds like a great neck humbucker - matches well with the HD :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2006, 01:35:52 PM »

Nice. Do you have a pic of your guitar now its got the chrome pickups in?

deg0ey · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2006, 01:38:48 PM »

Not yet - the parents are on holiday and took the camera, but they're due back at sometime today, so i'll get a picture up later for you :)

dave_mc · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2006, 07:26:39 PM »

woot, you finally posted eh, danno? :D th avatar looks awesome in the big scale, too...

don't really know about the specific pickups, but I've tried the pickups in the light ash strat, and to be honest, I suspect if you go with a bridge pickup from BK, it won't be long before you want to switch out your single coils too...

deg0ey · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2006, 07:40:35 PM »

Quote from: dave_mc

th avatar looks awesome in the big scale, too...

I thought it was quite scary in full size :P

Searcher · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2006, 04:50:10 AM »

Shameless plug: I've got a BKP set for sale in the Seconds Out forum.

Eric · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2006, 05:35:28 AM »

Quote from: deg0ey

Well, I think they're really nice...Clean, I wouldn't be able to tell they're supposed to be higher output (although I'm not exactly a strat bod) but when you stick the distortion through they dirty up really nicely...

I have a switch to have mine wired in series also, which sounds like a great neck humbucker - matches well with the HD :)

You know, that idea of wiring the neck and middle single in series is a pretty good idea. Is that the only position that it works in? Do you have a wiring schematic? Inquiring minds want to know. :D

deg0ey · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2006, 09:52:12 AM »

Eric: The main problem I had was that I couldn't find any schematics, and couldn't come up with one that would allow you to wire the neck and middle in series, and still allow you to keep the middle and neck positions separately...

So now I have wired in a push/pull, in a schematic of my own design, that gives the following switching arrangement:

Pos 1 = Bridge (full)
Pos 2 = Bridge (split) + Middle
Pos 3 = Middle
Pos 4 = Mid + Neck (parallel)
Pos 5 = Neck

And then when Pulled...

Pos 1 = Bridge (full)
Pos 2 = Bridge (split)
Pos 3 = Off
Pos 4 and Pos 5 = Neck + Middle in series

If you want the schematic for it, you're very welcome - and if anyone else wants it, just shoot me a PM

Danno: Any more thoughts on what Pickup yet? What sort of music do you play? (I can't remember from the UG days :lol: )

danno13 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2006, 10:56:33 AM »

Quote from: dave_mc

woot, you finally posted eh, danno? :D th avatar looks awesome in the big scale, too...

don't really know about the specific pickups, but I've tried the pickups in the light ash strat, and to be honest, I suspect if you go with a bridge pickup from BK, it won't be long before you want to switch out your single coils too...

Yeah, only eight months late...

As for the other two pickups, you may be right, but right now I'm really liking the whole "WE ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO BE OVERDRIVEN" attitude, at least on the more bassy pickups. The bridge, though, simply has no balls. I'm just afraid going to a fullsize humbucker might be overkill...

EDIT G0ey! Did you just give up on UG, or what? Anyway, for the bridge, just think Gn'R up to Megadeth. I'd like to get a Pantera-able guitar at some point, but the Strat's just not built for it. Maybe my next...

EDIT AGAIN Searcher- that set looks good, but it's at 99 cents. What's the reserve?

EDIT HARDER Could I order a pre-wired pickguard with any HSS set, if I decide to go that route, or only the combinations listed on the homepage?

deg0ey · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2006, 06:40:19 PM »

Quote from: danno13

G0ey! Did you just give up on UG, or what? Anyway, for the bridge, just think Gn'R up to Megadeth. I'd like to get a Pantera-able guitar at some point, but the Strat's just not built for it. Maybe my next...

EDIT HARDER Could I order a pre-wired pickguard with any HSS set, if I decide to go that route, or only the combinations listed on the homepage?

Yeah, I gave up on UG when I asked if it was safe to run a bass guitar through my guitar amp as long as I connect it to a bass cab so that the speakers are suited to the freqncies, and the only replies I got said "You can't do that because the speakers aren't built for it" and I got frustrated

Basically, it's just people answering questions when they didn't know the answer pissing me off.

In response to your other comments: The Holy Diver would get up to Megadethy distortion fairly easily I think, and it has a really nice crunch when you want it to, so I think it would be good for G'n'R type stuff also :)

If you were going for a single in the bridge, either the Sinner or Trilogy would be your best bet - but I don't know how they would cope with the Megadeth type thing, as they ARE still single coils.

The Warpig or Miracle Man would almost certainly be overkill IMO, not sure about the Nailbomb though.

Bear in mind that I've only actually played the Holy Diver, and the rest is just speculation from what others have said about stuff...

And your other question about the prewired pickguard - I was under the impression that you could only get them prewired in SSS format - but if you can get HSS, it would probably be able to be any HSS set you like - I got Slowhands instead of Irish Tours with my Holy Diver, and wasn't charged any extra (except for the cover on the HD) :drink:

MDV · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2006, 07:29:39 PM »

Greetings danno!

ex-UG D Man here.

Hows it going?

P.S. Sinner! If nothing else its not humbucking and you could back it off if its too much. You cant un-humbuck a humbucker, and if thats not what you want, like, dont do it.

Searcher · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2006, 09:58:29 PM »

Quote from: danno13

EDIT AGAIN Searcher- that set looks good, but it's at 99 cents. What's the reserve?

EDIT HARDER Could I order a pre-wired pickguard with any HSS set, if I decide to go that route, or only the combinations listed on the homepage?

PM'd you.

And I'm pretty sure you can specify whatever pickup combination you like for a pre-wired guard.